Rope supported resilient sideframe conveyor



Aug. 6, 1963 R.- F. Lo PRES-r1 ROPE SUPPRTED RESILIENT SIDEFRAME coNvEYoR 2 Shawls-sheet 1 l Filed Maj; 5L i960 INVENTOR. @y 0 presfi, BY

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ROPE SUPPORTED RESILIENT SIDEFRAME CONVEYOR Filed May 5. 1960 2 sheets-sheet .2

IN V EN TOR.

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United This invention relates to rope sideframe conveyors and more particularly to a conveyor `which embodies the advantages of both the ilexible rope sideframe and rigid sideframe types of conveyors.

Such conveyors have come into -wide use in industry for the conveying of bulk solid materials, such as coal, mineral ores or the like. In one conventional construction a series of flexible i-dler assemblies are suspended between a pair of taut -wire ropes extending along and mounted atop longitudinally spaced support standerds. The taut wire ropes provide support means 'for iiexible idler assemblies and consequently the conveying reach of the conveyor belt and permit troughing of these flexible idler assemblies. The assemblies automatically trough as a function of the 'weight carried by the conveyor belt. An increased load capacity, decreased belt -wear `and many other desirable results are obtained.

Along with the advantages of the rope sideframe conveyor as hereinbeiore described, however, some operational problems are also found. The mining industries are prime users of these conveyors and in mining operations the conveyors a-re used to advantage as all-purpose carriers. A fast and convenient subway system for miners proceeding to and from Work and between work locations is provided by the conveyor belt. The wire ropes extending along the edge of the conveyor belt occasionally present a safety problem to .these men in gaining access to and departing the moving belt. Since the longitudinally extending wire ropes are separated from the edge of the belt, a pocket or -gap remains between the ropes and the belt and any -rnisstep might result in being thrown -against these ropes. In addition, in operation of the conveyor in coal mines, for example, hunp-s of coal often fall over the side of the belt. If a lump is too large to fall freely between the edge of the belt and a corresponding wire rope, it will be carried along between the belt edge and the .rope in -a bouncing manner creating friction and belt wear. Upon eventually reaching and striking one end of an idler assembly, the erratically moving lump often throws the idler assembly and support standards out of line.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide `a new and improved rope sideframe conveyor which eliminates the elevated wire ropes but retains the advantages of the resiliently mounted troughing idler assembly.

.Another object is to provide a rope sidefr-ame :conveyor wherein the longitudinally extending wire ropes are mounted at ground level.

Still another object is to provide a rope sideframe conveyor having rigid unitary support standards carried at their bases by wire ropes.

Yet another object is to provide a rope sideframe conveyor of the aforedescribed character wherein troughing idler assemblies are suspended between the upright legs of these standards.

Still another object is to provide a rope sideframe conveyor of the aforedescribed character wherein troughing idler assemblies are resiliently suspended between the upright legs of these standards.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rope sideframe conveyor wherein troughing idler assemmtes Patent blies lare resiliently supported between the upstanding legs of rigid support standards by leaf spring connections.

These and other objects of this invention -will appear in the following specification and claim wherein like reference numerals identify like parts throughout.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is .a side elevation of a portion of a conveyor system embodying this invention,

FIGURE 2 is -a front elevation in detail of an idler assembly and its associated support standard,

FIGURE 3 is a view Ialong line 3 3` of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a plan view in detail of a portion of the conveyor shown in FIGUR-'E 2, and

FIGURE 5 is a detailed view of one end of the idler assembly and its resilient support means.

Shown generally at 2 in FIGURE 1 is Ia portion of a rope sidef-rame conveyor embodying this invention. The conveyor includes a pair of longitudinally extending wire ropes 3, 4 disposed generally Iat lground level. In FIGURE 2 is shown .a support standard comprising a rigi-d upright U-shaped framework 6 connecting the wire ropes 3, 4 and disposed therebetween. A series of these frameworks 6 are disposed at generally regularly spaced intervals longitudinally of the wire ropes.

Each framework 6 includes upstandin-g legs 7, 8 a-nd .a horizontal -bight portion 10 connecting the upstanding legs to form a U-shaped tube. I-lorizontally oriented longitudinally extending Ibase plates 11, 12 are secured by Iwelding -at the junction of each of the legs 7, 8 and the bight 10. A pair of wing fbraces 14 and 16- are welded to each upstanding leg and extend outwardly therefrom to a welded connection with the base plates. Transversely oriented reinforcing `braces 17, 18 are secured, as by welding to the legs and base plates. Each of the series of support standards is constructed in identical manner. Fixedly securing the bases 1,1, 1.2 to the longitudinally extending wire ropes 3, 4 are U-clamps 21, 22. rIhese clamps extend through holes 24 in the bases, as best seen i-n FIGURE 2, and are aixed thereto by nuts 2s, ze.

Secured to the upper end of each of the legs 7, 8 by bolts or rivets 27 are inverted L-shaped leaf springs 28. Links 29 are pivotally connected to the free ends yof springs 28 by pins 30. The inner ends lof the links are connected to the router ends of a tronghing idler assembly 31. In this instance an assembly of conventional construction inclnding a pair of wing rollers 32, 33 rotating on `dead shafts 34, 35 land a center roller 36 is illustrated. The outer endiof each wing roller dead shaft is pivotally connected to :a corresponding link 29 through pin 37.

Slots 3S tare provided in corresponding braces i14 of selected support standards along the conveyor. Dead shafts 39 supporting return rollers y40 for notation therelabout are lreceived in the slots. The selection of the number and location of standards to support return rollers is dictated by the topography ,of the terrain.

A conveyor belt comprising ra carrying reach 41 and a return reach 42 is supported by the troughing idler assernbly and the return roller.

The use, operation and function of invention are as follows:

Each support Vstandar-d is secured between the longitudinally extending wire ropes 3, 4 in la manner hereinbefore described. The taut wine hopes are normally disposed at lthe level of the terrain but may depart therefrom in crossing depressions or passing over rises. Consequently some support standards may be prevented from resting on the terrain.

In having the wire ropes at the base of the support 3 standar-rds regamdlesswof the relationship of the associated tensan, several distinctive Iadvantages are obtained. Since the ropes lie below the center of ygnavity of the conveyor suppbnt standards, the conveyor oan fbe moved in toto by pulling rthe ends of the Wire rope. In passages Where a conveyor assembly crosses the openings lof joining passage ways, vehicles can be permitted easy traverse rover the conveyor by merely separating the upper reach of the belt and removing la support standard. Planks can then easily be plaeed over the lower reach of the belt and fthe Wire ropes to prevent damage thereto. Men aiding the conveyor belt can `gain access to it :and depart Enom it Without danger of injury .from being thrown 'against a rope adjacent the edge of the conveyor belt. In conjunction With Ithis, lum-ps of coal Which all from the edge of the belt are not carried along between .the Ibelt and a wire rope with untoward results.

The resilien-t leaf springs supporting the idler assemblies permit load responsive troughi-ng in a manner similar (to that obtained with rope connected idler assemblies. As shown in FIGURE 5, the leaf springs 28 move between .the dotted line posi-tion and the solid line position in going from rio-load to loaded condition.

This invention then provides the advantages of a resiliently mounted troughing idler assembly :construction with the safety features and enumerated assets of the rigid sideframe conveyor. The lconveyor is easily assembled land dismantled by -a small Working crew. It is economical to manufacture yand simple to maintain. The leaf spr-ings permit load responsive belt nougfhing yet ame inherently simple in construction.

Although one embodiment of the invention llas been described in detail, `it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modications may be utilized. The base plates 11, 12 can be longer or shorter, but it is always desirable to space the tightening means 21, 22 a substantial distance apart in onder to provide stability to the entire assembly. Likewise, it may be advantageous under certain iconditions -to secure the ropes to skids so that the entire conveyor may more easily be pulled in toto from ione location to another.

The foregoing description is illustuative only and not denitive and itis intended that the scopeof the invention be limited only by the appended claim.

I olaim:

A ilexible belt conveyor which is easily movable, without disassembly, from place to place and in which, upon slackening or breaking of the belt only, the height may be lowered to ground level to enable passage of ground supported apparatus thereaci'oss,

said conveyor including, in combination, .two skid wires,

Kan intermediate Working length of said skid Wires being rat the level of and in contact with .the ground 4throughout intermediate Working length,

said skid wires being generally parallel to one another throughout said intenmediate working length and being tensioned at all times,

a spreader member disposed substantially transversely with respect to the axes of the skid Wires,

a pair .of upst-anding roller assembly supporting memv bers, one from each end of rthe spreader member,

a Wire clamping lassembly for each `skid Wire, eaoh wire clamping assembly having a Wire engaging pontion elongated in the `direction of the skid Wires for stability,

eaon wire clamping assembly connecting an associated skid wire to an associated end of the spreader member,

said wire clamping assemblies being secured to and carried 4by the spreader member and brackets and maintaining the skid Wires in skidding contact with the ground,

a :holler assembly having its lends mounted from ,the upper portions of the upstanding holler assembly supporting members and capable of flexing in a direction to 'vary the .spacing 4between 'the ends of the roller assembly whereby the downward =deeotion of the .roller assembly absorbs impact without alecting the skid wires.

References Cited in the ille ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' 1,773,621 Hopkinson Aug. 19, I1930 2,277,402 Hoeck Mar. 24, 1942 2,837,202 Baechli Jurre 3, 1958 2,868,355 McCann Ian. 13, 1959 2,921,668 Risse Jan. 19, 1960 2,983,364 Lo l'Presti May 9, 1961 2,983,365 Lo Presti May 9, 1961 3,019,890 Knill et al. Feb. 6, 1962 

